Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel shocked the NFL on Wednesday, telling ESPN’s Jeff Darlington that he had demanded a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. Whether or not the team decides to honor that request, the market for Samuel’s services is already taking shape. And according to one reporter in the know, there’s one NFL team to watch when it comes to making a motivating offer to the Niners.
According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the Houston Texans are said to be very interested in Samuel and have some very strong selling points if they decide to make an offer.
It's no surprise, but I've been told a team to watch in any possible WR trade talk around the draft is Houston, which holds the 3rd and 13th picks in the first round. 13th seems like the one in conversations. That of course would include any potential Deebo Samuel interest.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 19, 2022
“It’s no surprise, but I’ve been told a team to watch in any possible WR trade talk around the draft is Houston, which holds the 3rd and 13th picks in the first round. 13th seems like the one in conversations,” Kawakami tweeted. “That of course would include any potential Deebo Samuel interest.”
Guess a lot of people are just seeing this now. The reason I sent it last night is because I had a feeling something might break soon.
-Major point: I don't know if 49ers and HOU have had talks or if that would be Deebo's 1st choice. But there's chatter that HOU is interested. https://t.co/PLgWTshzRG— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 20, 2022
“I don’t know if 49ers and HOU have had talks or if that would be Deebo’s 1st choice. But there’s chatter that HOU is interested.”
I'll get thousands & thousands of fans screaming at me if HOU is NOT the eventual Deebo destination, which is fine. But they're the team at the top of mind leading into the trade demand. And now all teams know what's up. (Though I'd bet most knew already.) https://t.co/ZFEifYaBcg
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 20, 2022
“I’ll get thousands & thousands of fans screaming at me if HOU is NOT the eventual Deebo destination, which is fine. But they’re the team at the top of mind leading into the trade demand. And now all teams know what’s up.”
The 49ers and Samuel were negotiating a long-term deal before this but those talks seem to have stalled and, according to Albert Breer, this has been a long time coming.
A number of factors went into 49ers WR Deebo Samuel's trade request—money isn't central to it. One is his role, and the wear and tear he's incurred deployed as a hybrid tailback/receiver, a role that makes him unique.
The good news for the Niners is this will smoke out offers.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 20, 2022
Kawakami also added that the New York Jets appear to be a player in the Samuel sweepstakes as well but most of the chatter is in Houston’s direction for now.
If the Texans can acquire Samuel, putting him in an office alongside Brandin Cooks could certainly make for an entertaining season.
